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International Ladino Day: A Celebration of Story and Song
Celebrate Ladino—Judeo-Spanish— with acclaimed scholars and musicians. Hear Prof. Gloria Ascher, who has taught courses in Ladino at Tufts University for 17 years; Prof. Dina Danon, whose Stanford University Press book brings Izmir’s Ottoman Jewish community to life; two scenes from a New York Ladino play; a panel of Generation Y and Z Ladino enthusiasts; and musicians dear to our hearts, The Elias Ladino Ensemble and Sarah Aroeste. Light refreshments will be served.
Ladino is a bridge to many cultures. It is a variety of Spanish that has absorbed words and expressions from many languages, most notably Hebrew, Turkish, Arabic, Greek, and French. The mother tongue of Jews in the Ottoman Empire for 500 years, Ladino became the home language of Sephardim worldwide. While the number of Ladino speakers has sharply declined, distinguished programs like this one celebrate and preserve a vibrant language and culture for future generations.
Since 2013, Ladino Day celebrations have been held around the world. January 12th marks Manhattan’s 3rd Annual Ladino Day created by CUNY Prof. Jane Mushabac for the American Sephardi Federation at The Center for Jewish History.
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